Means for applying sealing strips, labels, or the like, to carton ends



vAug- 1941- L c. w. HARTMANN I 2,251,884

MEANS FOR APPLYING SEALING STRIPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE, TO CARTON ENDS Filed April 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l W. HHPTMHNN 0 m 0 Pee Aug. 5, 1941. c, w HARTMANN 2,251,884

MEANS FOR APPLYING SEALING STRIPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE, TO CARTON ENDS Filed April 27, 1.940 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 3x Rm mum mu 4 m L I NN a. UQ Rm m mn m mm mmm @WQ. m mm x@ QQ\ QR. l mm mWmw Mm uv wmm y N i 9% 3 V V s we a? I N L H \3 -N- z Aug. 5, 1941. c, w. HARTMANN 2,251,884

7 MEANS FOR APPLYING SEALING STRIPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE, TO CARTON ENDS Filed Apt i1 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /50 l 67/46 fzf 5.

[55 /25 I500 I g 19 VENTUP HH TMANN FEE : 1 TOP/v5 vs Patented Aug. 5, 1941 MEANS FOR APPLYING SEALING STRIPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE, TO CARTON ENDS Carl Wilhelm Hartmann, Lyngby, near Copenhagen, Denmark, assignor to Satona Limited,

Edinburgh, Scotland Application April 27, 1940, Serial No. 332,032 In Great Britain May 24, 1939 10 Claims. (Cl. 216-25) This invention relates to an improved method of and means for applying sealing strips, labels or the like to the folded in or closed ends of cartons, and is more particularly intended for use with machines in which tubular section cartons on suitable formers have one end, generally the base, closed by folding and pressing inwards the appropriate end parts of the walls of the cartons to a depth adequate to form an overlapping or rosette base, e. g. as described in co-pending application Serial No. 332,033, filed April 27, 1940, now Patent No. 2,238,388, granted April 15, 1941. The object of this invention is to enable labels or other suitable thin flexible sealing strips to be adhered automatically to the closed rosette or like ends of cartons as they are carried from the stage where the appropriate ends are folded to the closed position. Another object of this invention is to enable the machine or the label applying means to be stopped i automatically when a former which should bear a carton to the label or like applying stage does not carry a carton, so as to avoid labels and the like being adhered to the formers.

In carrying an embodiment of the invention into practice apparatus for applying seals or labels to carton ends comprises means to feed successively seals or labels on to a member connected internally to a source of suction and adapted by reason of the suction to pick up a seal or label and then to be moved from said feeding means towards one of a series of formers each adapted to carry a carton, and to be pressed against the carton on the appropriate former and simultaneously disconnected from the source of suction to deposit the seal or label on the carton, and means with said formers adapted to automatically arrest the seal or label feeding means in the absence of a carton on one of the formers approaching the seal or label applying stage.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect drawings are appended hereto illustrating an embodiment thereof and wherein- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing the seal or label applying means combined with means for shaping cartons and closing their bases as a preliminary set of operations in apparatus for feeding the cartons to filling, coating or other mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is an end sectional elevation View of the suction device for transferring the seals or labels to the carton bases.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 partly in section.

Fig, 4 is an end view on the line l4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a device which vautomatically functions to cut off the supply of seals or labels to the cartons when one of a series of formers which carry the cartons through the base closing operations does not receive a carton.

Referring to the drawings the seal or label applying apparatus is associated with a set of formers I2 radiating from a common rotary sup port [3 which is moved intermittently to bring each former I2 into a carton receiving stage opposite a support 9 where opened cartons are pushed on to formers by a reciprocating member The set of formers l2 rotates intermittently l5. in the direction of the arrows shown between some of the formers, and following the delivery of an open ended carton on to the appropriate former, the former next moves into a carton base shaping stage 13 which gives a rosette shape to the base as described in said co-pending application.

Following the base-shaping stage l8 each former carries its carton into two further stages consisting of radially reciprocated presser members l9 and 20 which are suitably heated and are urged against the opposed free end of the appropriate former so as to firmly press the rosette base into a fiat condition. When the irosette base of each carton is flattened as above described, a small square or other suitably shaped sealing piece or label is applied thereover, and this sealing label is coated with a suitable adhesive and pressed against the appropriate carton -.base. The mechanism for carrying out this operation comprises a supply roll 2| for the paper or other material, guide rolls 22 feeding the paper between a cutting bar 23 and a reciprocating knife 24.

The knife 24 is carried by a plate 24a fixed to one end of a rod 2 reciprocating in guides 33, the other end of this rod being connected by a link 5 to a lever B oscillated on an axis 1 by a link 8 connected at one end to the lever 6 and at its other end to an oscillated toothed segment I39 hereinafter referred to. The knife presses the severed piece of paper or the like 29 on to the opposed face of one of four suction heads 25 arranged in cruciform manner upon a common rotor 26 connected to a source of suction Hit. Each suction head 25 is carried by a sleeve 21 which slides radially relatively to the rotor 26 against the influence of a coiled compression spring 28, this inward sliding movement being effected in the first instance by the pressure of the cutter 24 against the opposed suction head 25, or in the second instance by the pressure of the suction head opposed to the appropriate former I2 to transfer to the base of the carton on the latter former the label I9 picked up from the cutting device, the vacuum or partially vacuum created within each head. being maintained between these two stages by reason of the labels sealing the apertures 25a in the plates 25b covering the outer faces of the heads, any reassertion of the springs increasing the suction effort. During the rotation of the suction device a part annular suction passage 98x communicates with three suction heads, a passage 98 connecting this part annular suction passage to an annular passage 98b in permanent communication with the suction conduit we terminating in a nipple [66a which receives a flexible suction pipe. and part annular passage 98sare in a non-rotating housing $811 and the rotor 26 has four L- s ape l a sa e whic a he appropriate sta es register with the part annular suction passage 981: and with an atmospheric pressure port 986 also in the housing 98;; the radial limbs of these L-shaped passages being in continuity with four radial tubular arms 91 on which slide the sleeves 2 7 integral with the heads 2-5, Flanges Q'ia at the free ends of the arms 9? limit th outward movements of the heads 25.

The suction eiiort within each head is maintained-until asuction head 25 carrying a label becomespqsitioned opposite a carton on a former, whereupon such head is pressed against the caron, base and during such pressure connection is established between the interior of the head and. the port 8 8 c connected to atmospheric pressure. The pressure of each head against the cute .4. 9 a n nst o m c r y e a arton is obtained by translative movement of the .rotaryIsetbf heads, and this translative movement effects the inward sliding movements of the heads 25 relative to the rotor 26 against the flue c it e. s ings. 8 nd such ward l dmev m ntn t er nnn s b in h tubular m 91; ereb c mplet n he c ection to uc i n r atmo phere. F r is p nnse. h I

tor 26 carr ing the suction heads has imparted to, it reciprocating motion transverse to its axis, 1. e. horizontally between the cutter 24; and the p n ed rnler n rd r in. e e mi a osi i n to pickup the disc qr label from the cutting sta e andin the other terminal position to press the disc or label against theappropriate carton base. n he at r P s tion t e o r a dt e n ion head opposed to the former occupy relative positions which enables port 98c to be positioned pposi e, t e ap pria e a s ge 5.10 bre kv t e vacuum. within such head.

Advantage is taken of the translative or recip rocating movement of the rotor to time the movementor; opening of the port Site to coincide with the u n ia l nm n he ap r pr te head.

25 and former. For this purpose the housing 98 has just suificient angular movement impartedtoit, as the rotor moves towards the head t 5W6. fi e adj stment. e u f f n'd. e ta eithe btinr s dn r w reen. s lrea y expla ne he. ntqr. it.

The passage 93.

slots 9% on a part of the machine frame, for

which purpose one of such sleeves has a bolt I82 receiving one end of a link I63 operated from a crank I54 driven from a suitable part of the machine. The bevel pinion 99c gears with a bevel pinion std slidable on a splined driving shaft. Each suction head 25 is provided with a plurality of holes 25a arranged in a plate detachably secured by screws. It is preferred to locate a coiled compression spring [03a on the link 33 te absorb some of the axial pressure of the appropriate suction head against the carton head and to connect the crank IM to the link It3 loosely by collar Ilifila abutting against the spring.

It is desirable to afford a warning or to stop the machine when no carton is fed on to the appropriate former I2 at the stage 9. For this purpose each former has a transverse channel near its free end which is covered by a carton on the former, but is uncovered so as to be operative Such;

when there is no carton on the former. channel I217 contains a guide plate I20 along the crested free edge Q f which (when there is no carton on the former) is adapted to travel a roller I38 on one end of a finger Ilifia forming a cranked extension of a spindle i351) having a lever I3} which is connected by a rod I32 to one arm of a double-armed lever I33 fulcrumed at I33gz. The other end of the lever is formed with a lateral stop I343, which when raised against the influenee of a spring I331) by reason of the movement of; the said roller I39 in the transverse channel I- Zb affords an abutment (see Fig. 4) against; a pin or roller I36; on the lower end of a rocking lever I-3I operatedby a cam I54 and.v

carrying at its. upper enda segment I3 8 meshing.

Witha toothed segment l-39 on a spindle MD car rying the paper feeding roller MI. The toothedsegment has a uni-directional drive (indicateddiagrammatically by the device I42) with the feed roller I 4| sothat the feed roller is only rotated. in the feeding direction. This stopping location ofthe stop I34- prevents a coiled tension,

ing an abutmentlnot shown) on the machine frame to, ensure proper normal location of the levers I3. I and I 33.

The before'saidfinger I3taformingthecranked extension of the said spindle I3Iibis free to oscillate'against-the. influence of. a spring I 36. on. a.

pinv L55 having anaxistransverseto the axisof the spindle. Itilb andthe outer face, of the roller.

I36 on this finger is partly shielded by a skid strip I51 which slides idly against the appropriatefaceo fthe carton on the former, but allows the roller I39 to trip" into said channel I2?) when there is no carton on the former.

By means of the foregoing mechanism when a former I2- without a carton'is on its way'to the stage where normally it would-receive a label, the

roller I39-tripping intothe appropriate channelis actuated by the rising crest of the guide plate IZc to operatemeans to prevent operation of the label cutting and feeding mechanism. At the same time it; is. desirable. to stop the machine mi ef a t inn ead not receivin a. label in the label receiving position and this can be effected automatically by making use of the' upper suction head 25 which has not received a label to operate a switch. By reason of this suction head 25 not having a label it will be extended to a greater radius than if it was under the influence of suction, consequently a cam faced bar I44 on one side thereof will bear against a trigger I45 which has an extended limb I la adapted to raise a push rod I46 which bears against and raises a round-headed pin I41 against a switch lever I48 which moves inwardly a contact carrying rod I49 carrying a pair of contacts I50 so that this pair of contacts is separated from a fixed pair of contacts I5I in a housing I52 mounted on a suitable part of the machine.

I claim:

1. Means for applying seals on to the ends of cartons comprising a member connected internally toa source of suction, means to feed successively seals on to said member, a series of formers each adapted to receive a carton, said member being adapted by reason of the suction to pick up a seal and then to be moved from said feeding means towards one of the series of formers and to be pressed against the carton on the appropriate former and simultaneously disconnected from the source to deposit the seal on the carton, and means with said formers adapted to automatically arrest the seal feeding means in the absence of a carton on one of the formers approaching the seal applying stage.

2. Means for applying seals on to the ends of cartons comprising a rotor connected internally to a source of suction, a number of radiating tubular members carrying perforated suction heads at their free ends and supported by the rotor, said rotor being connected internally to the tubular members, a rotary ported device adapted to automatically connect and disconnect the tubular members to and from the source of suction, means to reciprocate the rotor transversely to its axis, formers adapted to bring carton ends successively opposite said reciprocating rotor, means to bring said heads successively opposite to the carton ends carried by the formers to press a suction head against a carton end, means to isolate the suction heads from the source of suction when they are moved towards the carton ends, means to feed seals on to the suction heads, and means with said formers adapted to automatically arrest the seal feeding means in the absence of a carton on one of the formers approaching the seal applying stage.

3. Means for applying seals on to the ends of cartons comprising a rotor connected internally to a source of suction, a number of radiating tubular members carrying perforated suction heads at their free ends and supported by the rotor, said rotor being connected internally to the tubular members, a rotary ported device adapted to automatically connect and disconnect the tubular members to and from the source of suction, means to reciprocate the rotor transversely to its axis, formers adapted to bring carton ends successively opposite said reciprocating rotor, means to bring said heads successively opposite to the carton ends carried by the formers to press a suction head against a carton end, said heads being slidably supported by said tubular members, spring means yieldingly opposing inward sliding movement of said heads relatively to the tubular members due to the suction effort so that when the suction is cut off at the appropriate tubular member the spring means thereof reasserts itself and presses the seal 5. Means for applying seals on to the ends of.

cartons comprising supporting devices for the cartons, a combined pressing and suction head adapted to press labels on to cartons on the said supporting devices, means to connect the head to a source of suction, means to feed a seal to thehead when thus connected to the source of suction, means isolating the head from the source of suction when it is pressing a seal on to a carton on one of said supporting devices and means arresting the feed of seals when a supporting device approaching the head is without a carton.

6. Means for applying seals on to the ends of cartons comprising formers adapted to have fitted thereon the cartons to receive seals, seal applying means opposite which the carton carrying formers are located in succession, said seal applying means comprising a head shaped to carry a seal and means to press the seal carrying head against the appropriate former to transfer the seal to the appropriate carton, means preventing transfer of a seal to any former that passes from the carton receiving stage without receiving a carton and comprising driving means with each former and adapted to be covered and rendered inoperative by the location of a carton on the appropriate former, driven means actuated by said driving means, operating means to impart label applying pressure to said seal applying means, a

stop adapted to arrest operative movement of said operating means of the seal applying means, and means normally holding said stop in an inoperative position, said stop being moved into a stopping position through the medium of said driven means actuated by said driving means associated with the formers.

'7. Means for applying seals on to the ends of cartons comprising formers adapted to have fitted thereon the cartons to receive seals, seal applying means opposite which the carton carrying formers are located in succession, said seal applying means comprising a head shaped to carry a seal and means to press the seal carrying head against the appropriate former to transfer the seal to the appropriate carton, means preventing transfer of a seal to any former that passes from the carton receiving stage without receiving a carton and comprising a transverse channel across one face of each former, the said channel being adapted to be covered by the cartons so as normally to be inoperative, operating means to impart label applying pressure movements to the seal applying means, a spring loaded actuating lever with a part adapted to enter and traverse said channel and to be actuated by said channel in the absence of a carton on the appropriate former, a stop operatively connected to said lever and adapted to arrest operative movement of the said operating means of the seal applying means, and means normally holding said stop out of the path of movement of the operating means which W transmits pressure applying movements to the against the seal applying device, said stop being moved by carton end, means to isolate the suction heads 7 from the source of suction when they are moved I said lever into a position to impede the said transmission'cf movement's when said lever par-t entersl'the said transverse channel 8; Apparatusifor' applying sealsonftoth'e ends of cartons.comprisingformersadapted to receive the cartonslto be fitted with seals, adevice adapted to apply seals by pressure to the cartons on the formers, meanstoieed the sealsto the said device, said formers being adapted to convey cartons in succession opposite to saidse'al applying device, means preventing the transferof seals to the seal applying device when a former approaches the seal applying device without a carton, and. means adapted to stop the operation adapted to connect and. disconnect the tubular members, to and from. the source of suction, formers adapted to bringcarton ends successivelyopposite said rotor, means to bring saidheads successively opposite to the cartonw ends carried by the formers, means to reciprocate the rotor to press the appropriate suction'headagainst acarton end and also to press each suction head in turn to a seal receiving position, springmeans yieldingly opposing inward sliding movement of said heads relatively'to the tubular members due to saidipressure and ports opened by the inward I movements of thesuction heads relatively tos'aid,

tubular members to connect the heads to the source of suction when receiving labels and to atmosphere pressure when I being pressed against a carton end. 7

10; In apparatus for applying seals to cartons aseries of formers each adapted to receive a carton, a suction head connected internally to a source of suction, means to apply seals in succession to said head whereby the seals are held upon the head by suction, means to align the seal carrying suction head with a carton end on one of saidformeravmeans to press the head-and a formertogether and to simultaneously break the vacuum in the suction head to apply the seal to the carton end, an abutment, means to stop the working of the apparatus actuated from said abutment, said abutment being adapted to be engaged and displaced from a normal position by reason of the suction head not carrying a seal to the applying zone for the purpose of transmitting operative movement to said means adapted to stop the apparatus, said abutment being so located that normally it is missed by a suction head carrying a seal by reason of the inward retraction of the headdue to suction.

CARL WILHELM HAR'IMANN. 

